BelFlex Staffing Network (BelFlex), a staffing and flexible workforce solutions firm in the industrial sector, announces that Newport High School was selected to participate in the BelFlex Junior Mentoring Program (BJMP).
The program brings together a local high school and area businesses to help prepare students to be confident, poised and ready for employment.
“Selecting the right high school is a critical step in this journey and Newport stood out because of its strong leadership and supportive learning environment,” said Ann Hollingsworth, Community Outreach Manager at BelFlex. “We also felt the school’s central location and close proximity to local businesses would help foster increased community involvement in the program and with the students.”
The BJMP originated in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2015 due to concerns about the high youth dropout and unemployment rates.
BelFlex partnered local businesses with Tuscaloosa’s Central High School to provide valuable mentorship and advice on navigating the process of identifying and securing meaningful employment opportunities. Due to the highly successful impact the program had on both the students and Tuscaloosa area businesses, BelFlex is expanding the program to Newport.
“BelFlex is offering an exciting opportunity for our high school, where nine out of ten of our students receive three free meals a day and one out of ten are considered homeless with no consistent place to lay their head at night,” said Jennifer S. Michael, Newport High School Business Teacher and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) adviser. “BelFlex is preparing these young people to go out in the world and establish a career while providing invaluable instruction and guidance that they simply do not have access to in their daily lives.”
During the seven-week program, a select group of 16 to 20 juniors and seniors will learn a range of skills including how to write a resume, hunt for a job and dress professionally. Additionally, each student has the opportunity to participate in mock interviews with business leaders and job shadow employees at an area company.
Michael will select a diverse group of students that she believes will prosper under this type of mentorship.
“I am excited and proud to have the opportunity to work with the students in our community to develop job readiness skills through the BelFlex Junior Mentoring Program in Northern Kentucky,” said Dave Proud, Florence, Branch Leader of BelFlex. “This is a great way to achieve our goal of succeeding together and I look forward to watching these young people shine in 2017.”
BelFlex is encouraging local companies to participate in workforce development by mentoring and giving BJMP students an opportunity to interview with real professionals and receive constructive feedback.
Any company interested in participating can contact Proud at BelFlex via email: dproud@belflex.com or by phone 859.282.8533.
BelFlex provides staffing and flexible workforce solutions to distribution and manufacturing companies in the Midwest and Southeast.
Founded in 1989, BelFlex employs over 5,000 people through its 22 branch offices. To learn more click here .
BelFlex